Over the last 16 years the Red Deer Health Foundation has raised an impressive $6,395,513 through its incredibly successful Festival of Trees.

Red Deer’s festival is used as a model for similar events in many other communities. This year it runs from Nov. 23-28.

Brenda Mullaney, project officer for the Festival of Trees for the Red Deer Regional Health Foundation, says, “It’s become a premiere event in the City. Red Deer is a very giving community and recognizes the need to increase and enhance what’s available at the regional hospital. It’s a project that touches everyone and is very popular in the community. Every year we grow a little more.”

Last year the festival raised $600,000 to help pay for a colonoscopy clinic for the Red Deer Regional Hospital. This year’s festival, the 17th annual, will raise money to upgrade technology and enhance capacity in the hospital’s cardiopulmonary services.

Money raised will be used to purchase resuscitation equipment, cardiac monitors, ECG machines, ventilators and a telehealth system; all of which will benefit patients of all ages in areas like emergency, outpatient services, diagnostics and inpatient care. Cardiovascular disease is still the leading cause of death (36%) in Canada.

More information about all events is available at www.reddeerfestivaloftrees.ca